Seahawks 12, Dolphins 10: Wilson to Baldwin in final minute for the escape in opener

The indestructible Russell Wilson was limping. He had bulbous, black-tape wraps on the outside of his ankles. He looked like he was laboriously trekking the Wonderland Trail in hiking boots as much as quarterbacking the Seahawks.

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If he looks like he did at the end of Sunday’s season opener, Wilson can have a Seahawks job for life.

Down 10-6 to huge underdog Miami, Wilson rallied Seattle on a 14-play drive in a 2-minute drill with two fourth-down conversions. It ended with his 2-yard flip to Doug Baldwin in the back, left corner of the end zone with 31 seconds remaining. The score came on a play the QB changed at the line, out of one call and into another play. Baldwin said Wilson had never before done that particular switch.

That touchdown allowed the Seahawks to escape the Dolphins -- and themselves -- in a 12-10 victory at relieved CenturyLink Field.

Cornerback Richard Sherman said, aptly: “It’s a blessing we came out with a win.”

The winningest quarterback to begin an NFL career has never missed a Seahawks play or even practice. Could he miss preparation time this week for next Sunday’s game at Los Angeles?

“We’ll see,” Carroll said following his third win in seven openers as Seattle’s coach when asked about Wilson’s availability throughout this week: “Yes, we have to look at it.

“He got in a really bad situation there, you know, when he got kicked.

“How tough can you be? It didn’t even faze him.”

It fazed the Seahawks. They prepped backup Trevone Boykin to enter the game. The undrafted rookie put on his helmet, threw passes and took snaps with starting center Justin Britt in front of the bench.

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But during one of five three-and-outs the Seahawks’ defense forced out of Miami, a trainer did a tape job as fast as Guido did in “Cars” changing Lightning McQueen’s tires. Wilson, who finished 27 of 43 throws for 258 yards, that touchdown and an interception under duress in the first half, was putting on his helmet before he was even off the training table.

So what that his right ankle was throbbing and largely immobilized the most mobile QB around?

Wilson’s got two ankles.

“He’s Russell Wilson,” said Thomas Rawls, the running back who returned from his broken ankle in December to rush for 32 yards on 12 carries.

“He’s going to finish that game some type of way – even if it’s on one leg.”

In the big picture, the best thing to say about the Seahawks’ day was to use one Carroll’s favorite faint praises for a tepid performance: They got through it.

The offense kept committing penalties. It allowed three sacks. It was failing to generate first downs, momentum, or anything beyond two field goals.

With a 3-0 lead after one period, the Seahawks netted just 31 yards on their first 13 snaps of its second quarter. Their average drive start in the first half was their own 21.

Wilson’s 26 passes to start were his most in a first half in his five-year career. Nineteen of Seattle’s first 27 play calls were passes, most of them quick ones to help his offensive line that had new starters in four positions – including J’Marcus Webb at right guard for injured Germain Ifedi, the rookie first-round draft choice.

But, as it often has, Seattle’s defense kept the team ahead. Miami had 118 total yards, 7 in the third quarter. The Seahawks led this slog 6-3 deep into the final quarter.

Then, out of nowhere, the Dolphins went 86 yards on seven plays. Jarvis Landry and Arian Foster got free for long catch and runs against Seattle’s zone coverages. The Dolphins took a stunning, 10-6 lead with 4:08 left on a 2-yard run by Ryan Tannehill, on a quarterback draw.

So much for 6-foot-4 Seahawks defensive end Cassius Marsh’s block with his left arm of Miami’s attempt to tie the game on a 27-yard field goal by Andrew Franks with 10½ minutes left. Or the dropped pass by the Dolphins’ Kenny Stills in the first half when he was 6 yards behind Earl Thomas for what would have been a touchdown.

But then Christine Michael, starting at running back as Rawls works his way back, converted a fourth-and-inches play with a 7-yard run inside. On fourth and 4 from the Seattle 47 and 2:08 left, Seattle changed its play following a time out. Baldwin ran from right to left across the field in the clear. Wilson’s lofted pass found him for a 22-yard gain to the Miami 31.

Then Jimmy Graham picked a decent time for his first catch since his torn patellar tendon in his knee Nov. 29, to the Miami 16.

After the game in the locker room, Carroll hugged Graham. The coach whispered in his ear and noted the tight end’s long, lonely 9½ months of recovery from major knee surgery.

“It was such a big injury, such an extraordinary rehab,” Carroll said.

“It was very emotional.”

Another catch by Baldwin got Seattle to the 2; he finished with a career-high nine receptions for 92 yards in his first game since signing a $46 million contract extension.

Two plays later, he and Wilson won the game.

“When the plays count, we know how to finish,” Baldwin said. “We’ve shown that for five years, so it shouldn’t be a surprise.

“Obviously, we want to start cleaner. We want to do things more consistently. But you can always count on us to execute at a high level when you need to finish things.”